Swiss may catch bull by the horns

bern - The Swiss could soon decide in a referendum whether they are the cows and the goats, to grasp the horns or not. The initiative for the referendum on whether the animals are allowed to keep their horns, was taken by a club (mountain) farmers who feels closely connected to nature.

Their 64-year-old leader Armin Capaul says that the reality is totally different from the ideal picture of a peaceful Alpine landscape with green pastures and well-fed, blissful cattle. Today, in nine out of ten Swiss calves and goats horns removed to reduce the risk of injury in the mega stables.

' And so you rob animals of their dignity, ' says Capaul. ' Moreover, the quality of the milk and the meat is affected. ' The farmers who acts out of respect for nature to abandon the ' antler-amputation ' should receive financial compensation for this. The 120 000 signatures required for the referendum have been in, the government has confirmed.